The men’s UFC pound-for-pound rankings are the cream of the crop when it comes to top 10 MMA lists. This is a look at the best fighters on planet Earth today and it features the competitors who best blend power, speed, athleticism and fight IQ into an absolutely destructive cage fighting force.

This is also a very controversial list and as subjective a topic as that of the MMA community. With that said, here are the latest pound-for-pound rankings from Ringside Intel UFC.

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10. Dricus Du Plessis (22-2)

It hasn’t always been pretty, but Dricus Du Plessis’ eight-fight winning streak inside the Octagon is undeniable. He is a complete fighter who has achieved victories in different ways. And a trio of wins over former middleweight kings Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland and Israel Adesnaya – including two finishes – is worth landing in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

9. Leon Edwards (22-4)

Leon Edwards forever marked his place in UFC and UK MMA history when he managed to topple division legend Kamaru Usman in 2022. His victories in the rematch and then against Colby Covington made him placed among the greatest British fighters of all time. However, all good things must come to an end.

At UFC 304, his long winning streak came to an end to rival Belal Muhammad, and the new champion doesn’t seem willing to give Edwards a rematch anytime soon.

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8.Alexandre Pantoja (21-5)

Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja has had a long, difficult road to becoming the new UFC flyweight king. He toiled within the division for five years before he was finally able to earn a title fight at UFC 290. In his first chance to be champion, he succeeded by winning a second (unofficial third) victory against division king Brandon Moreno. In his first defense of his throw, he competed in another rematch – this time against Brandon Royval – and proved once again that he was the best man and still the best 125-pound fighter on the planet.

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7. Jon Jones (27-1)

For many fight fans, Jon Jones is the greatest of all time, and for good reason. Outside of a very controversial early-career loss, he was rarely tested during a legendary run in the UFC. And he added to a legacy that made him the best light heavyweight of all time by winning the heavyweight belt in 2023.

However, activity is important when it comes to pound-for-pound rankings, and having only had one fight in four years is why he’s in the back half of our top 10.

Related: Jon Jones’ Next Fight – When is ‘Bones’ Returning to the Octagon?

6. Alexandre Volkanovski (26-4)

Super featherweight Alexander Volkanovski is one of the most complete fighters in the sport. There’s little he can’t do in the cage, and he has the fight IQ to back it up. However, being lightweight champion is not a goal he will achieve in his career after falling to lightweight king Islam Makhachev twice.

He is also no longer the featherweight king and no longer one of the top three fighters in the world. Nonetheless, he remains a staple in any UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

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5. Belal Mohammed (24-3)

You can no longer doubt the talents of Belal Muhammad. He has beaten top fighters like Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque and Gilbert Burns, and can now call himself a world champion after beating Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

His rise to the top is one of the best stories in the UFC. Now he needs to solidify his place as one of the best welterweights of all time and have some defenses under his golden belt.

4. Merab Dvalishvili (18-4)

After losing two fights in a row, Merab Dvalishvili is truly a “machine”. He has won 11 straight, including against bantamweight greats Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo and Petr Yan. However, his victory at UFC 306 against Sean O’Malley made him a true MMA star. It also put him in the top 10 in our latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

Related: UFC Bantamweight Rankings – Get the latest top 10 at 135 pounds

3. Ilia Topuria (15-0)

Ilia Topuria has become one of the best fighters on the planet during an impressive eight-fight run. While many respected him before becoming champion, his last two victories have put him in rare air. The Spaniard has scored back-to-back knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, arguably the two greatest featherweights of all time, in his last two matches. He is on his way to legendary status.

2. Alex Pereira (11-2)

Alex Pereira’s UFC story is becoming legendary. After ten fights, he became a two-division champion and scored destructive victories against some of the best fighters of that era at middleweight and light heavyweight. The 37-year-old has been a revelation for the company and has connected with the MMA fan base with an approach to fighting similar to that of cage fighting icon Fedor Emelianenko.

At UFC 307, he continued his run with a dominant come-from-behind victory over a Khalil Rountree match. If it weren’t for Makhachev’s genius over the past few years, “Poatan” would occupy the top spot in our latest top 10.

Related: Alex Pereira’s Next Fight – When is ‘Poatan’ Returning to the Octagon?

1. Islam Makhachev (26-1)

Many doubted how good Islam Makhachev really was, and some doubted that he deserved a lightweight title opportunity against Charles Oliveira. However, he proved he truly is the heir to lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 280 when he submitted Oliveira. The man with the most submissions in UFC history.

Since then, he has only grown his legend and his place among the best fighters in the world, pound for pound. In his first three title defenses, he held off the challenge of featherweight great Alexander Volkanovski, and more recently Dustin Poirier, and showed the complete and nearly unbeatable fighter he currently is.